Wednesday, March 21, 2007 Internet cafe raid yields 24 minors By Rhodamae M. Hernandez
TWENTY-four children, the youngest of whom is eight years old, were found playing computer games inside an Internet cafe during class hours in a raid coordinated by the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) with the police along Pioneer Street in Barangay 33-D, Tuesday afternoon.
The CSSDO personnel accompanied by Sta. Ana policemen padlocked the Numlock Internet Cafe owned by Revelyn Martinez.
Martinez will be cited for, at least, three violations: (1) allowing children to play games in the cafe during class hours, a violation of the City Internet Cafe Ordinance of 2004 (City Ordinance 0227-04); (2) allowing minors to smoke inside the enclosed establishment, and; (3) selling cigarettes to minors, both violations of the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 (Republic Act 9211).
"The operation was based on the complaints of parents," PO2 Elisa Ramirez of the Sta. Ana police told Sun.Star Davao.
Ramirez said some parents found out that their children have been skipping classes, thus not eligible for graduation.
"Because they were expecting their children to graduate but they found their kids are lacking in requirements, or worse, the kids were dropped out in their classes," Ramirez said.
Having received such information, the police surveyed the place before conducting the raid.
Ramirez said the children would tell the caretaker of the Internet cafe that they have no classes.
“The owner lives near the café, so the owner knows what is happening," added Ramirez.
She said they are still preparing on the charges to be filed against the owner and caretaker.
"If the papers are already done, we will file charges and the minors will be released to their parents if they care claimed here," Ramirez said.
The minors were brought to the Sta. Ana police station’s Women and Children's Desk.
